Just read this:
In one rare interview in early 2001, Raul spoke with unusual frankness about his older brother's eventual death and encouraged the United States to make peace with Cuba while Fidel was still alive.
"I am among those who believe that it would be in imperialism's interest to try, with our irreconcilable differences, to normalize relations as much as possible during Fidel's life," Raul said in the interview with state television. Later, he said, "it will be more difficult," implying he would be harder to deal with.
Raul, a political hardliner, belonged to a Communist youth group even before the revolution. The elder Castro didn't publicly embrace socialism until 1961.
But on the economic front, he showed signs of flexibility.
As defense minister, Raul has overseen some of Cuba's most important experiments with limited market-style reforms. Military units produced and sold food at free markets and the military ran an important tourism company, Gaviota.
He also expressed interest in China's version of free-enterprise socialism during a November 1997 visit.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/07/31/D8J7CLM80.html
BTW if we're going to continue on this tack maybe we should move to Off Topic section. ;)